Morning Meditation – The Gift of Presence

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”—which means, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23, ESV)

No greater gift can be given than the offer of one’s presence in another’s life—to be another’s friend in all times, for better or for worse. This is the gift of all gifts—to rejoice in another’s joys, and to grieve while another painfully mourns. This is the gift that bestows upon our friends meaning and healing.

If our world is at a loss of anything, it is this gift of presence. Loneliness… separation… isolation… these things plague humanity’s heart. These are the pains leading to all sorrow.

The miracle of Christmas is God Himself—extended by His Spirit within and by His Spirit through the hands of another. God could not do more than give the gift of presence. Certainly, the miraculous would alleviate momentary distress, and healing would relieve the pressures against our mind, but the deeper need is always the presence of another’s love.

While we wait to be loved, let’s choose to love first. As we move through the holiday season, as we consider all the gifts we need to collect, consider giving the greatest gift of God’s presence through your loving availability. It may just do far more than any miracle you can imagine.